Dental bridge articulator



Filed Dec. 23, 1935 INVENTO A4, ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7, 1937 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dental bridge articulators.

It is one of the principal objects of my invention to provide a simple and efficient articulator for partial bridge or plate work, as well as for full dentures. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide an articulator in which centric occlusion as well as lateral movement can be easily obtained by the turning of a screw carried by the mandible.

It is another object of my invention to provide the mandible with a heel to prevent the articulator from tipping over.

Other important and incidental objects will be .15 brought out in the following specification and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my articulator showing in dotted lines bridge work carried by its jaws. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through my articulator, showing the grooved screw in position to obtain centric occlusion. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the articulator, showing how the grooved screw may be loosened to permit lateral movement to indicate interfering cusps. And Figure 4 is a side view of the grooved screw carried by the mandible.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a detailed description of my invention, the numeral I designates a mandible which in this instance comprises an outwardly tapering metal jaw member formed with a substantially triangular slot 2 to receive a dental model such as a partial bridge, plate work or a full denture. (See Figure 1.) The inner end of the mandible I is curved as shown in Figure 1 to provide a heel 3 which prevents the articulator from tipping over when the upper jaw member 4 is turned back.

contains a slot 5 to receive a dental model for occlusion with the model carried by the mandible, both models being shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

Projecting upwardly from the top of the curved. rear end of the mandible I, are ears 6, Ii to receive between them the downwardly projecting ears I, I on the rear downwardly curved part of the upper jaw member 4. The ears 6 and 'I are formed with holes adapted to be brought into. registry to receive a pivot screw 8 by means of which the upper jaw member is hingedly connected to the mandible.

A set screw 9 is carried by the rear end of the upper jaw member 4 for contact at its lower end Ihe upper jaw member 4, like the mandible I,

with the mandible to set the bite, and at its head with the heel 3 to limit the turn back movement of the upper jaw member.

For the purpose of permitting a lateral movement of the upper jaw member I, to reproduce 5 the side-wise swing of the jaw during mastication in order that interfering cusps may be checked, I have formed the screw 8 in the following manner. Referring to Figure 4, this screw carries on one end a wing 9 and is formed at its opposite end with threads II'I. Near the wing 9 the screw has an annular groove II.

The threaded end ll] of the screw enters a tapped hole in one ear 6 on the mandible after being passed through the hole in its other ear 6, and the holes in the ears I, I on the upper jaw member. When inserted fully within the tapped hole in the inner ear 6 of the mandible, the groove I I in the screw 8 will be between the ears 1, I of the upper jaw member. (See Figure 2.) While the latter is now pivotally connected by the screw to the mandible for the purpose of a vertical hinge-like motion to check centric occlusion, the upper jaw member has .no lateral movement. However, when the screw is backed out a small amount, its groove II will be shifted 1aterally to the position shown in Figure 3. In this position, the inner ear I of the upper jaw memher will rest on the grooved portion II of the screw, and thus have sufiicient play to permit the upper jaw member to have the lateral swing which it has in mastication for the purpose of checking interfering cusps.

It will thus be seen that by adjusting the screw 8 laterally, the articulator may be set for centric occlusion to reproduce the vertical movement of the jaws, or for a lateral movement of the upper jaw member to reproduce its side-wise swing during mastication.

I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction and arrangement herein shown and described, and any changes or alterations may be made therein within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the type described, comprising a mandible and an upper jaw member for supporting at their outer ends dental models for occlusion, ears projecting upwardly from the rear end of the mandible, ears projecting downwardly from the rear end of the upper jaw member, and a screw passing through said ears for hingedly securing the upper jaw member to the mandible, said screw formed with an annular groove to. receive one of the upper ears when the screw is backed out a small amount to permit a lateral movement of the upper jaw member.

2. A device of the type described, comprising a mandible and an upper jaw member for supporting at their outer ends dental models for occlusion, upwardly projecting ears on the rear end of the mandible, one of said ears formed with a tapped hole and its opposite end with a plain hole, a screw threaded at one end passing through 10 the holes in said ears, and ears projecting downwardly from the upper jaw member for insertion between the ears on the mandible, the ears of the upper jaw member being formed with holes to receive said screw, said screw being provided with an annular groove at its non-threaded end, to receive one of the upper ears when the screw is backed out a small amount to permit a lateral movement of the upper jaw member. 

